Australasian Hippo Population

[Zoofan15]

Try telling that to the powers that be here rhino man.you are correct but as mentioned this species has been badly managed and then there is the problem of a ultra strict IRA process on top nothing here is simple when it comes to importing animals into this region . Look how long the bovine IRA has taken.

I think the hippo IRA is more likely to happen sooner rather than later now multiple zoos have a vested interest in it going through. Monarto Zoo are looking to source hippos (likely a breeding herd) and Werribee need to source a new bull to ensure their young cows have a chance to breed.

 

[Zorro]

I think the hippo IRA is more likely to happen sooner rather than later now multiple zoos have a vested interest in it going through. Monarto Zoo are looking to source hippos (likely a breeding herd) and Werribee need to source a new bull to ensure their young cows have a chance to breed.

I have no doubt, my comment was for folk outside the region who maybe unaware how difficult it is to import animals into our region and the long process it takes

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Try telling that to the powers that be here rhino man.you are correct but as mentioned this species has been badly managed and then there is the problem of a ultra strict IRA process on top nothing here is simple when it comes to importing animals into this region . Look how long the bovine IRA has taken.

I was fully Aware of that ...., just find it like a good few vet restrictieve laws versus ecotic species rather had on the bizarre side of things (where I am convinced most if not all of the viral discases, bacteria and other agents dangerous to ... come from either pets or the cattle/horse/sheep industries ....).

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I think the hippo IRA is more likely to happen sooner rather than later now multiple zoos have a vested interest in it going through. Monarto Zoo are looking to source hippos (likely a breeding herd) and Werribee need to source a new bull to ensure their young cows have a chance to breed.

What makes you believe so ..., I appreciate your insights.

 

[Zorro]

I was fully Aware of that ...., just find it like a good few vet restrictieve laws versus ecotic species rather had on the bizarre side of things (where I am convinced most if not all of the viral discases, bacteria and other agents dangerous to ... come from either pets or the cattle/horse/sheep industries ....).

I agree with your view but the difference is major money is involved around the agriculture industry where there is very little when it comes to exotic animals

 

[Zoofan15]

What makes you believe so ..., I appreciate your insights.

It’s been on the cards for a long time and now the Bovid IRA has been taken care of, giraffes and hippopotami are the next priorities given both regional population are in desperate need of imports.

No action has occurred thus far with regards to hippos - quite possibly because all the main zoos have been content to sit on what they have; but now Werribee need a new bull; Dubbo would benefit from a new bull; and Monarto need hippos full stop.

The transfer of the young female Pygmy hippo to Darling Downs Zoo (as opposed to being paired with one of the males at Melbourne or Adelaide) also suggests imports aren’t far away i.e. a better option is on the horizon.

 

[Zorro]

It’s been on the cards for a long time and now the Bovid IRA has been taken care of, giraffes and hippopotami are the next priorities given both regional population are in desperate need of imports.

No action has occurred thus far with regards to hippos - quite possibly because all the main zoos have been content to sit on what they have; but now Werribee need a new bull; Dubbo would benefit from a new bull; and Monarto need hippos full stop.

The transfer of the young female Pygmy hippo to Darling Downs Zoo (as opposed to being paired with one of the males at Melbourne or Adelaide) also suggests imports aren’t far away i.e. a better option is on the horizon.

Considering how long that the bovine IRA took to complete I am not holding my breath for a completion date, The bovine IRA kept being pushed back year after year every year. At a best case scenario I would expect it to take several years in the meantime we just see the remaining hippo’s ageing by the day.

 

[Zoofan15]

Considering how long that the bovine IRA took to complete I am not holding my breath for a completion date, The bovine IRA kept being pushed back year after year every year. At a best case scenario I would expect it to take several years in the meantime we just see the remaining hippo’s ageing by the day.

If that’s the case, then the region really needs to be proactive in managing the hippopotami we have.

The Pygmy hippopotamus cow at Darling Downs Zoo needs to be paired with the bull at either Melbourne or Adelaide Zoo (perhaps a breeding loan from one of these zoos for a couple of years).

The Common hippopotami are a more complex kettle of fish. Werribee would do well to transfer one of their female pods to Monarto Zoo. Even if they received a bull tommorow, Werribee aren’t going to be breeding from all five females, so they’re just taking up space.

Although there’s better genetic options, Kani should remain in his natal pod until he’s sired a male calf to either his mother or sisters. He could achieve this as young as three, whereas placing him in a pairing with an unfamiliar female at this age could result in serious injury to him. It’s not worth the risk.

Once Kani has sired a male calf, he could then be transferred to Werribee or Monarto to breed with the cows there.

 

[Swanson02]

Is it possible that they could tack 5-6 Hippos and South-Central Black Rhino onto the upcoming White Rhino import from South Africa? I heard a report that some river systems in northeastern South Africa are starting to suffer from severe overcrowding and I assume the crate dimensions for a Rhino are essentially the same for a Hippo.

 

[Zoofan15]

Is it possible that they could tack 5-6 Hippos and South-Central Black Rhino onto the upcoming White Rhino import from South Africa? I heard a report that some river systems in northeastern South Africa are starting to suffer from severe overcrowding and I assume the crate dimensions for a Rhino are essentially the same for a Hippo.

A South Central black rhinoceros import would be possible and with Monarto wanting to acquire females, it seems a logical step - especially considering our cows are all related.

While it’d be physically possible to import hippos, there’s no IRA so it would be prohibited due to biosecurity reasons. Wild founders would be very valuable though!

 

[Swanson02]

A South Central black rhinoceros import would be possible and with Monarto wanting to acquire females, it seems a logical step - especially considering our cows are all related.

While it’d be physically possible to import hippos, there’s no IRA so it would be prohibited due to biosecurity reasons. Wild founders would be very valuable though!

When is the ETA of this giant rhino import? if it's around 2024-2025 couldn't an IRA for Hippos have been cleared by then (I don't know how long they take to). It's a three birds one stone kind of situation and if they are quarantined in NZ like planned with the white rhinos it's possible Auckland/Hamilton/Orana could chip in and acquire some themselves (isn't Auckland interested in Hippos as a replacement for their elephants?).
We could see a mega import of 10-15 hippos, 30+ White rhinos, and 6-7 Black rhinos, with animals distributed all across the region.

 

[MRJ]

Considering how long that the bovine IRA took to complete I am not holding my breath for a completion date, The bovine IRA kept being pushed back year after year every year. At a best case scenario I would expect it to take several years in the meantime we just see the remaining hippo’s ageing by the day.

I think I have already pointed this out, but firstly the bovine IRA was a learning exercise for both the zoos and the government officials and secondly it covered a wide range of species against two for the hippo IRA. I think you are being unduly pessimistic.

 

[MRJ]

I was fully Aware of that ...., just find it like a good few vet restrictieve laws versus ecotic species rather had on the bizarre side of things (where I am convinced most if not all of the viral discases, bacteria and other agents dangerous to ... come from either pets or the cattle/horse/sheep industries ....).

Not sure you are fully aware. Firstly there are a number of diseases that are just part of daily life for European and other farmers that simply don't exist in Australia. Secondly there is the problem of invasive species, and as we have seen even hippos can become an invasive species.

 

[Zoofan15]

When is the ETA of this giant rhino import? if it's around 2024-2025 couldn't an IRA for Hippos have been cleared by then (I don't know how long they take to). It's a three birds one stone kind of situation and if they are quarantined in NZ like planned with the white rhinos it's possible Auckland/Hamilton/Orana could chip in and acquire some themselves (isn't Auckland interested in Hippos as a replacement for their elephants?).
We could see a mega import of 10-15 hippos, 30+ White rhinos, and 6-7 Black rhinos, with animals distributed all across the region.

The rhino import will occur in three phases - the first was scheduled to take place later this year, but with Covid I’d imagine we’re looking at 2023 (the infrastructure to quarantine them at Orana still isn’t built yet). The subsequent imports will be around a year apart, so yes a hippo IRA may well be in place by then.

I think hippos would be perfect for Orana Wildlife Park, but may prove too costly.

Auckland Zoo will never house hippos again. I suspect comments made around acquiring them in the future were purely to placate the public who were upset the zoo no longer had hippos when the last two died. They’re expensive to keep and the zoo has long since repurposed their exhibit to expand the Savannah (which will be further expanded following the elephant phase out).

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

The rhino import will occur in three phases - the first was scheduled to take place later this year, but with Covid I’d imagine we’re looking at 2023 (the infrastructure to quarantine them at Orana still isn’t built yet). The subsequent imports will be around a year apart, so yes a hippo IRA may well be in place by then.

I think hippos would be perfect for Orana Wildlife Park, but may prove too costly.

Auckland Zoo will never house hippos again. I suspect comments made around acquiring them in the future were purely to placate the public who were upset the zoo no longer had hippos when the last two died. They’re expensive to keep and the zoo has long since repurposed their exhibit to expand the Savannah (which will be further expanded following the elephant phase out).

I would be upset too.

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo will never house hippos again. I suspect comments made around acquiring them in the future were purely to placate the public who were upset the zoo no longer had hippos when the last two died. They’re expensive to keep and the zoo has long since repurposed their exhibit to expand the Savannah (which will be further expanded following the elephant phase out).

I would be upset too.

I was upset at the time because I knew even back then it’d never happen. A few months prior to their deaths, the zoo spoke about the issues with keeping the water clean and dealing with effluent run off with regards to new environmental guidelines and the expenses that were involved via a documentary.

Credit to Auckland Zoo, they let the hippos live out their lives without shipping them off somewhere else and had indeed catered for them in their 2014 masterplan (indicating they would have kept them had they not passed); but on the other hand, there was clearly no motivation to source more.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Hi
Visited Melbourne zoo today a saw felix in his exibit swimming around but in the exibit next to him the pool now has water in it and a sing saying something is coming, i tried to search it up but cant find any info

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Cant recal the exact words of the sign but said something like that ore something special is comeing

 

[Zoofan15]

Hi
Visited Melbourne zoo today a saw felix in his exibit swimming around but in the exibit next to him the pool now has water in it and a sing saying something is coming, i tried to search it up but cant find any info

Cant recal the exact words of the sign but said something like that ore something special is comeing

Its probably a Mandarin duck or something equally low key like a transfer from within the zoo. Melbourne Zoo (and other zoos) always do this. When it’s something legit exciting, they say what it is to increase the hype. When it’s not exciting, they say “something exciting” or “something special.”

A few years ago there was a ton of fuss about something coming to the orangutan exhibit. It turned out to be the Siamang they’d had for years in a different area of the zoo.

I’d love to be proved wrong. I’ve previously suggested the female Pygmy hippopotamus from DDZ should be paired with Felix (or Obi) for breeding, so this would be a commonsense (and welcome) transfer, but I won’t hold my breath until we have confirmation. Keep us posted!

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Good Point
A lot of places hype up stuff although they could be putting a Malayan tapir in there if she can live any long but the exhibit was basically empty with no plant